We at DCFud have told you before how much we love our Pho and our bubble tea. So it warms my heart when I stumble upon a place with delicious renditions from both – and at a location convenient to my annoyingly-placed workplace in Springfield.
Saigon City in Springfield has become my lunch haunt of choice as of late. The place is low on lunch specials (and their dinner-priced Vietnamese selections aren’t ridiculously cheap, either), but I’m there for the Pho, which at $5.75 for a not-that-small small serving, is certainly a manageable price.
I’ve sampled two of their Phos so far, one with eye of round and brisket fat, and another with dark-meat chicken. Though the fat wasn’t appealing in the first choice, both had the typical flavorful broth, delicious meat and slippery noodles which you come to expect from a good Pho (and after having seriously sub-par Pho at Springfield Mall not too long ago, it was a welcome change). The traditional garnishes of bean sprouts, mint and lime were all provided in excess, and the dish benefited from a splash of soy sauce and a bit of hot sauce.
But what drew me to the restaurant was the brightly-colored poster boasting they had Bubble Tea. I tried two of the slush varieties: Thai Iced Tea and Green Tea flavored. Both were refreshing, with slightly firm balls of tapioca filling the bottom of my glass. After frequenting a plethora of Bubble Tea providers in both New York’s Chinatown and Pasadena, CA, I’m always delighted to happen upon a decent DC offering, where the drink seems more rare.
Saigon City is sort of a take-out/dine-in hybrid; it appears to be a regular restaurant, but you pay at the register. The servers are harried but friendly. After seeing me there twice this week, they’re already treating me like a regular. And if my Pho and Bubble Tea cravings continue, I’ll probably become one.
Saigon City Restaurant
6333 Brandon Ave
Springfield, VA 22150
(703) 569-0303